Animals on the road — Florida Permit Test

Do not swerve into oncoming traffic or off the roadway to avoid hitting an animal, because that can cause a worse crash than hitting it.

Hitting a deer is survivable. Meeting a truck head-on while missing one is often not.

Do not swerve into oncoming traffic or off the roadway to avoid hitting the animal. This can result in a more serious crash than if your vehicle collided with the animal.

Use caution when driving at dawn and dusk, because that is when animals are most active.

Animals move at the two times of day when your eyes are adjusting to the light.

Use caution when driving at dawn and dusk; this is when animals are most active.

Deer and vehicle crashes occur most often from October to December.

The deer are moving more in those months, and the evenings are dark earlier.

Deer/vehicle crashes occur most often from October to December.

Flash your headlights to warn other drivers when animals are seen on or near the road, but remember that deer fixate on headlights and flashing them may make the animal freeze.

The same flash that helps the car behind you can be what roots the deer to the spot.

Deer tend to fixate on headlights so flashing them may cause the animal to freeze.

Report the crash to law enforcement if it involves a large animal such as a bear, deer or farm animal.

A big animal left on the road is the next driver’s crash, and somebody has to be told.

Report the crash to the law enforcement if it involves a large animal such as a bear, deer, or farm animal.

Slow down when approaching animals standing near the roadway, because they may bolt out or change direction.

An animal standing calmly at the edge can be in your lane a second later.

Slow down when approaching animals that are standing near the roadway, they may bolt out or change direction.

What should you not do to avoid hitting an animal?

Swerve into oncoming traffic or off the road. Hitting a deer is survivable. Meeting a truck head-on while missing one is often not. Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.71: “Do not swerve into oncoming traffic or off the roadway to avoid hitting the animal. This can result in a more serious crash than if your vehicle collided with the animal.”